We surveyed 1,768 senior business leaders across the UK, Ireland, and the Nordics to understand the real challenges they’re facing - and how our services help them respond.
Are optimistic despite uncertainty
Say agility trumps cash reserves
Are investing in AI this year
Filter results by country, company size, turnover, and industry to see how you compare.
Compare your performance and priorities against 1,768 European peers across six markets.
Understand pre-conflict sentiment to inform your resilience strategy and identify capability gaps.
“ In the past, weathering an economic storm meant hoarding cash and battening down the hatches. Today, the most successful leaders are telling us a different story. They are prioritising operational agility and leadership capability above all else. They are realising that you cannot simply save your way to growth; you have to innovate your way there. ”
Peter Gallanagh - Azets UK CEO
Download our full Q1 2026 Barometer for detailed insights, market-by-market analysis,
and expert commentary on how ambitious businesses are navigating 2026.
Accounting shouldn’t slow you down. With Azets, you get more than compliance, you get a proactive partner who helps you understand your numbers, reduces complexity, and make confident decisions at every stage of growth. We combine expert advisors, smart technology, and tailored support to help ambitious businesses stay ahead in a constantly changing landscape.
Work with experienced, partner‑led teams who understand your business and provide practical, commercial advice - not just reports and filings.
Our modern accounting solutions simplify reporting, streamline processes, and cut time spent on manual tasks giving you clearer insight with less effort.
Accounting shouldn’t slow you down. With Azets, you get more than compliance, you get a proactive partner who helps you understand your numbers, reduces complexity, and make confident decisions at every stage of growth. We combine expert advisors, smart technology, and tailored support to help ambitious businesses stay ahead in a constantly changing landscape.
Work with experienced, partner‑led teams who understand your business and provide practical, commercial advice - not just reports and filings.
Our modern accounting solutions simplify reporting, streamline processes, and cut time spent on manual tasks giving you clearer insight with less effort.
From day‑to‑day accounting to forward‑looking advice, we help you stay compliant, plan ahead, and make decisions with confidence, even in uncertain times.
From day‑to‑day accounting to forward‑looking advice, we help you stay compliant, plan ahead, and make decisions with confidence, even in uncertain times.
Azets helps you stay compliant, manage risk, and make smarter tax decisions with confidence. From day‑to‑day compliance to complex planning, our tax specialists work alongside you to minimise exposure, uncover opportunities, and support long‑term business goals, no matter how complex the environment becomes.
From corporate and personal tax to VAT, international structuring, and transactions, our specialists provide joined‑up advice tailored to you.
We don’t just meet deadlines, we help you anticipate change, manage risk, and make informed decisions that optimise outcomes today and in the future.
With deep technical expertise and local knowledge, we help you navigate evolving tax legislation with clarity, reducing uncertainty and giving you peace of mind.
Azets helps you stay compliant, manage risk, and make smarter tax decisions with confidence. From day‑to‑day compliance to complex planning, our tax specialists work alongside you to minimise exposure, uncover opportunities, and support long‑term business goals, no matter how complex the environment becomes.
From corporate and personal tax to VAT, international structuring, and transactions, our specialists provide joined‑up advice tailored to you.
We don’t just meet deadlines, we help you anticipate change, manage risk, and make informed decisions that optimise outcomes today and in the future.
With deep technical expertise and local knowledge, we help you navigate evolving tax legislation with clarity, reducing uncertainty and giving you peace of mind.
Azets delivers clear, rigorous audits and assurance services that strengthen governance, improve transparency, and build trust with stakeholders. Our experienced teams combine technical excellence with commercial insight to give you assurance you can rely on, and insight you can act on.
We go beyond the numbers, providing clear findings and practical observations that support better decision‑making, not just a pass or fail.
Our audit teams bring deep technical knowledge, sector experience, and partner‑led support tailored to your business size, structure, and regulatory needs.
From statutory audits to assurance engagements, we help strengthen reporting, governance, and credibility giving boards, investors, and regulators confidence in your business.
Azets advisory services help you make confident decisions, manage risk, and seize opportunities with clarity. We work alongside leadership teams to provide practical, insight‑led advice that supports growth, transformation, and long‑term success across every stage of your business journey.
Our advisors combine strategic insight with hands‑on experience, helping you tackle complex challenges with advice that is practical, relevant, and built for action.
From growth and restructuring to transactions and performance improvement, we help you navigate uncertainty, manage risk, and move forward with confidence.
We invest time to understand your business, ambitions, and pressures, delivering tailored advice that supports better decisions when it matters most.
Azets advisory services help you make confident decisions, manage risk, and seize opportunities with clarity. We work alongside leadership teams to provide practical, insight‑led advice that supports growth, transformation, and long‑term success across every stage of your business journey.
Our advisors combine strategic insight with hands‑on experience, helping you tackle complex challenges with advice that is practical, relevant, and built for action.
From growth and restructuring to transactions and performance improvement, we help you navigate uncertainty, manage risk, and move forward with confidence.
We invest time to understand your business, ambitions, and pressures, delivering tailored advice that supports better decisions when it matters most.
Azets delivers reliable, compliant payroll services that reduce admin, ease pressure, and give you complete peace of mind. Whether you have a simple setup or a complex workforce, our payroll specialists ensure your people are paid correctly and on time, every time.
We stay on top of changing payroll legislation, pensions, and reporting requirements, reducing risk and ensuring compliance at every stage.
From fully outsourced payroll to support during change or growth, we tailor our services to your workforce structure and internal needs.
With streamlined processes and modern systems, we take payroll off your plate, freeing up time to focus on running and growing your business.
Azets delivers reliable, compliant payroll services that reduce admin, ease pressure, and give you complete peace of mind. Whether you have a simple setup or a complex workforce, our payroll specialists ensure your people are paid correctly and on time, every time.
We stay on top of changing payroll legislation, pensions, and reporting requirements, reducing risk and ensuring compliance at every stage.
From fully outsourced payroll to support during change or growth, we tailor our services to your workforce structure and internal needs.
With streamlined processes and modern systems, we take payroll off your plate, freeing up time to focus on running and growing your business.
Providing local services that deliver sustained outcomes.
Our specialists across Europe deliver sustained outcomes for our clients.
We're trusted by more than 100,000 clients.
Our Q1 2026 Barometer reveals the top pressures on ambitious businesses. Here's what leaders are concerned about, and how Azets services directly address these challenges.
Now rank operational agility as
more critical than cash reserves
for resilience
The definition of resilience is fundamentally changing. Leaders can’t just save their way through uncertainty - they need the ability to pivot quickly and make confident decisions under pressure.
We support your business with strategic planning and advice so that you can make the right decisions for the future of your organisation and grow with confidence.
Of UK businesses cite higher
labour costs as their top concern
Rising wages, increased employer contributions, and talent shortages are creating a perfect storm. Businesses need to optimise costs without sacrificing service quality or employee satisfaction.
We streamline your payroll operations, ensure compliance with changing regulations, and help you structure compensation strategically to retain
talent while protecting margins.
Plan to increase AI investments,
but many don’t know where to start
While Nordic businesses race ahead with AI integration, 1 in 5 UK businesses say it’s still not a priority. Those who delay risk falling behind competitors who are already using AI to manage costs and improve decision-making.
We help you identify high-impact AI use cases for your business, from automating financial processes to improving forecasting accuracy, without overhyping or overinvesting.
The challenges your peers are facing - and how we help
Our Q1 2026 Barometer reveals the top pressures on ambitious businesses. Here's what leaders are concerned about, and how Azets services directly address these challenges.
CHALLENGE
Traditional resilience strategies aren't enough
45%
Now rank operational agility as more critical than cash reserves for resilience
The definition of resilience is fundamentally changing. Leaders can't just save their way through uncertainty - they need the ability to pivot quickly and make confident decisions under pressure.
How Azets helps
The challenges your peers are facing - and how we help
We support your business with strategic planning and advice so that you can make the right decisions for the future of your organisation and grow with confidence.
Regulation and talent are rising concerns
CHALLENGE
40%
Of UK businesses cite higher labour costs as their top concern
Rising wages, increased employer contributions, and talent shortages are creating a perfect storm. Businesses
need to optimise costs without sacrificing service quality or employee satisfaction.
How Azets helps
Payroll & HR Optimisation
We streamline your payroll operations, ensure compliance with changing regulations, and help you structure compensation strategically to retain
alent while protecting margins.
The Al divide is widening
CHALLENGE
65%
Plan to increase Al investments, but many don't know where to start
While Nordic businesses race ahead with Al integration, 1 in 5 UK businesses say it's still not a priority. Those who delay risk falling behind competitors who are already using Al to manage costs and improve decision-making.
How Azets helps
Technology & Digital Advisory
We help you identify high-impact Al use cases for your business, from automating financial processes to improving torecasting accuracy, without overhyping or overinvesting.